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Bring a little heat to your favorite seafood dishes with this creamy, tangy, and completely herbaceous Pickled Jalapeno Tartar Sauce. With the bold flavors of cilantro and lime joining the party this sauce seafood side will have you double dipping.

If you’re looking for a twist on the classic tartar sauce recipe, this is it. By swapping out just a few simple ingredients this jalapeno tartar sauce is equally at home with beer battered shrimp as it is a blackened grouper sandwich or crab cake jalapeno poppers. The slightly tropical flavors and kick of heat will make this your new favorite addition to any seafood feast.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy Process – There is just minimal chopping and mixing required for this tartar sauce recipe. No cooking required!
Make Ahead – Some things just get better once they have refrigerated for awhile and this is one of those. Not only do the flavors come together and marry but it also slightly thickens up. Feel free to make this several days in advance.
Accessible Ingredients – You probably have most of the ingredients to make this spicy tartar sauce. It combines staples like mayonnaise and Dijon mustard with easy to find ingredients like lime and cilantro.
Versatility – Think beyond the fried shrimp and fish. This is a great topping for burgers, tacos, and even tossed with a bag of slaw mix.

Ingredients

Mayonnaise – You will want to use a high-quality mayo such as Duke’s for this cilantro-lime tartar sauce.
Pickled Jalapenos – Homemade pickled jalapenos are best for this recipe, but storebought totally works. The Mexican style pickled jalapenos in the can with carrots and onions are my preferred variety but the jarred pickled jalapenos work just as well. Avoid any that are sweet like cowboy candy.
Lime – You’ll need a fresh lime for this for both the best flavor and also the zest.
Dijon – Adds savory tang that cuts through the richness of the mayo.
Cilantro – Bright, herbaceous, and a little citrusy, this wakes up all of the flavors and brings instant freshness.
Shallot – Adds a little punch of delicate onion flavor.
Salt & Pepper – Enhances all of the flavors of the ingredients.

How to Make Pickled Jalapeno Tartar Sauce

Finely chop your jalapenos, shallot, and cilantro. Zest your lime.
Add to a bowl and mix. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine.
Let refrigerate. Allow the jalapeno tartar sauce to refrigerate for at least an hour.
Taste and adjust. Taste your tartar sauce and add any additional salt.

How to Store Pickled Jalapeno Tartar Sauce

Because this is a mayonnaise-based sauce, you will want to keep it refrigerated at all times unless it’s being served. Keep it stored in an airtight container and it will last for up to a week.

How to Use Pickled Jalapeno Tartar Sauce

Beer battered shrimp
Crispy fish fingers
Surf and turf tacos
Grouper sandwich
Chipotle fish tacos
Add to shredded cabbage for a quick slaw
Lobster Fritters

Tips From the Beach

Use organic citrus if possible. Because you’re using the zest of the lime also you want to make sure it doesn’t have any coating on it. Traditional citrus often has a waxy coating to protect it both during shipping and also at the grocery store. Organic citrus doesn’t have this. Regardless make sure that you wash your lime well.
Taste your pickled jalapenos first before adding them to the sauce. Depending on how spicy and briny they are you may want to add a little mor or a little less.
Fresh is best. Skip dried cilantro and use fresh.
Not a fan of cilantro? Try adding finely minced parsley, scallions, chives, or more traditional dill for a different flavor profile.
You can make this same sauce using sour cream or Greek yogurt for a tangier, thicker dip.

Looking for a more traditional tartar sauce recipe? Make sure to check out Homemade Tartar Sauce with dill and cornichons.

Can I use fresh jalapenos for this pickled jalapeno tartar sauce?

Absolutely! Because pickled jalapenos are less spicy than fresh you will want to start with 1/8 cup. Take out the seeds for less heat if desired.